Rail-anticreeping device.



Unir star RAIL-ANTICREEPING DEVICE.

reci ,tra

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed March 6, 1916. Serial No. 82,275.

To Nyle/wm 'it may conf/ern.' l

lle it known that l, Cummins l?. YAnoLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 4n Rail-Anticreeping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail anti-creeping devices, among the many objects of the invention being the provision of an article of this character which is simple in construction, which will not damage the rail, which can be easily and quickly applied and which will etfectually prevent movement of the rail in the direction of trailic. rllhe applianee possesses other features of novelty and advantage, which with the foregoing will be stated at length in the lfollowing description, of that forni of embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. I do not restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in severall respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following the description.-

Referring to said drawings: Figure l is a j top plan view of said device, the rail being Ishown 1n longitudinal section and a part ot thel tie showing in full lines, the anti-Creeper being in its operative position. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device and showing in cross sectionthe base portion of a rail, the former being shown in working relation. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding practically to Fig. 2, showing by full and dotted lines a way of applying the article. Fig. et is a developed View of a blank from which that form of appliance herein shown can be inade.

`-Like. characters refer to like parts throughout the several. figures.

stock depending upon the size of the rail in conjunction with which the anti-Creeper is to be used.

The device includes in its construction the body portion il, the upper fiat edge 5 of which isadapted under operative conditions to bear substantially and solidly against the ,y under surface of the base of the .rail as shown in Fig. 2. Rising from the bearing surface 5 at the ends thereof are the faces A( and 7 practically vperpendicular or at right angles to the edgev The distance between these gripping or clamping faces 6 and 7 is practically equal to the widthof the base of the rail. This distance between the faces n'iay be a little greater or a littleI less .than the width of the base of the rail, but I prefer that it be a trifle less fora reason that -will hereinafter appear. lt will be understood that the faces (S and T present the inner parts of aw portions 8 and 9 situated in the present case at the terminals of the body portion 4, these jaw portions as will be undel-stood, jointly clamping,r or gripping the rail base onto which they are driven.l The anti-Creeper also comprises a-n abutment or stop portion as 1() separated or spaced from the body portion 4 but considerably shorter as shown, than the latter. This abutment portion l0 inay be parallel with said body portion, being adapted to engage against the side face of the tie adjacent said body portion or nearest the line of tratlic which line is indicated by the arrow in Fig. l. abutment portion 1() is joined to theI connect- -ing or body member 4 or to the jaw member 8 thereof in somo suitable way as by' thc bowed connecting part. l1` which as represented is curved outward from the rail. 'lhc al'nltmeut portion l() is also shown provided with' a rail` engaging face l2. This rail engagingr face as illustrated is in the plane of the edge lt need not necessarily be coeXtensive with the abutment portion, how ever, being located practically at the free end thereof, the uppcr'portiou of said abut- Inent portion back of thc rail engaging face 12 being cut away or removed as at l'l for' clearance. The 'jaw portion 8 is provided with an inward projection or lug 14 in alinenient perpendicularly with or in the vertical plane of the body 4, this projection 14 being adapted to overhan one lateral portion of the rail base. l/Vhile the projection 14 is connected with the jaw portion; 8. the jaw portion 5) has associated with it the resilient tongue 15 spaced from the body 4 and connected with the said jaw portion 9 or with the body -l ot which saidjaw portion forms a terminal by the laterally bowed connecting part or' neck 1G. Initially the under sur- Jtace of the tip ot' this resilient tongue 15 is practically under the base of the 1ail i). at the side thereof opposite the jaw t9 as will hereinafter appear.

In applying the anti-creeper the following procedure may be adopted: lnitially the abutment l() will be placed against the proper surface. ot' the tie 3 and what is shown as the left side ot the base of the rail 2 will be entered in the recess' or notch formed jointly by the edge 5, face (l and overhanging projection 14. the device being at this time at a downward in 'ard slant (Fig. 3) from the recess and the tongue 15 being under the base of the rail. `With the aid ot' a suitable implement the bodyis elevated until the side edges ol the rail base are received between the faces and 7,' theV motion continuing until the edge o nearly strikes the under surface ot' the rail at which point the faces (l and 7 will tightly and firmly grip the rail. As a matter of tact the body or connecting member 4 is connected with the rail practically by a driving tit, so that when said connecting member is positioned on the rail, it becomes virtually a rigid or solid part thereof and the purchase of the jaws S and 9 on the rail is so tight and firm as to etfectually resist with the aid of the abutment member 1() ordinary endwise thrusts. At this point the body portion is almost horizontal. the abutment portion 1() bearing against the tie as it should in practice. The tongue 15. however, is still below the rail base. lith the aid of a suitable implement and through a fulcrum ali'orded ii necessary by the tie. the tongue is ele 'ated and as soon as its under liat edge is tlush with the upper surface of the rail base, the tongue automatically or by its own resiliency instantly spring: across said base. .it necessary the edge 5 is brought by the aidot' a suitable tool against the under surt'ace ot the rail. It will be noted that the free` portion ot the tongue is curved outward, so that as the tongue is elevated in the manner described7 this curved portion by engaging the inner edge ot' the rail base is ianuned outward until at such time as the tongue reaches its high position as already set forth. When the tongue is positioned over the rail the creeper in its entirety is prevented trom dropping, although the grip ot the faces (S and 7 upon the rail is sutticient under normal or usual conditions to preclude such a possibility. Thlere may be cases where the side edges of the rail may vflake and in such an event the faces (i and 7 cannot obtain their maximum hold7 but` owing to the fact that the lug 14 and tong-.rileI 15 overlie the rail, it is not possible ttor the anti-.creeper to drop from place. The tongue is both pcrpendicularly and laterally yieldable, which is a feature ot' advantage for the reasons already set Vforth. lt is not directly connected to the body but is united thereto by the connecting portion or neck 16. said tongue as a consequence being positively spaced or separated from the body. In View of this circun'istance the body can be applied initially to the rail in the position which it is to ultimatcly occupy and which is practically at right angles to tli'e rail, which is a feature ot' some importance.

The line of thru-st is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 17 as l"have already set forth7 and when such thlust applied to the rail it is directly transferred to the body por tion 4 land through the bowed portion l1 to the abutment portion 10. fllhe anchored tie 3 prevents movement ot' the"anti-creeper and the latter in turn movement of, the rail in the direction indicated. Asthe device is ot' resilient character, it is clear that it any abnormal thrust be applied to the rail, t. pull olE the rail owing to the fact that the asutment 10 is fixed, will cause the tongue l5 to swing toward the body 4 and will thus cause a progressive increase in pressure of the tongue on the rail proportionate to the increase in thrust applied to the rail. The result ,of this is that when said tongue is thus acted upon it is drawn onto and up the. base of the rail and into biting engagement therewith, the bite being along the inner edge thereof. In view of this circumstance it follows that the body 4; is both advanced on an arc struck from an axis vertically intersecting the resilient portion 1 1 and is also tipped. so that it' possible to cause the faces and 7 to more closely embrace the rail. This latter condition will always ensue should there be any looseness in fit ot the faces G and 7 on the rail caused for instance by scaling of the rail.

In Fig. Lt l show a suitable blank from which the anti-creeper hereinbet'ore described can advantageously be made. lllhile it is desirable that the appliance be made in a single piece, this may not always be necessai-y. lhelnlioweven it is thus made the blank in question is one of several that i quite suitable for the purpose.. ln describing this blank I will as near as possible use the reference symbols hereinbetore employed. This blank can be out from sheet -metal by the aid ot' suitable dies or otherwise and it comprises the body portion et, the upper edge ot' which is straight. From this upper edge 5 the straight faces 6 and 7 rise. the face 6 being overhung bythe lug M14. From what shown the left end ot the body' there is the downwardly detlected portion/11 ternnnatlng in a straight part 10.

l may be conditions wherev more may be re- Y presents the tongue 15, to which have*- but is connected with it through the resilient The blank is bent on itself-"atl the` left end so as to p roduce vthe resilient bowed connecting portion 11 to which 'I have already re erred. At the right end of vthe blank there i's'- a prolongation 23 which is doubled on itself to produce the overhanging tongue 15 already described. y y

In addition to the points of advantage I have already alluded to," I might refer among others to the' following: Frozen ballast will not loosen the anti-creeper, nor will reverse traffic affect it. No special tools are required to mount orvdismount the device, a small hammer and bar being all that is necessary to obtain thesefunctions. tightens automatically at a large number of points, six in the present case. It is selfmaintaining and self-adjustable.

1n actual use two of the anti-creepers should be placed at the center of each rail opposite the joint inthe opposite rail; there quired. l

I have spoken of the yeldability vertically and laterally of the tongue 15. The vertical vyie'ldability isvdue to the resilience of the body portion 4, while the lateral yieldability is due to the resilient connection of'said tongue with said body portion.

`- It will be noticed that the tongue 15 is connected with the body portion 5 resiliently at a point outwardly beyond adjacent jaw 9.

This condition is obtained in the construe-` tion shown, by providing the body portion #i at a point outwardly beyond said jaw 9 with a return bend, the free part of which already alluded, while the part 1 6. constitutes the bent portion of the return bend. Owing to tl 's construction, it will be clearl that the base or butt of the tongue 15, is not connected directly with the body portion,

neck part 16, in-lview of which I can-,connect the device with, the rail in lthe manner set forth.v l

That claim is: I

1. An 'anticreeper comprising a body portion having jaws to engage the base of a rail, one end of the body yieldingly vconnected with said body portion and the other end thereof being provided with a tongue also yieldingly connected with said body portion, the tongue being A adjacent jaw and to overhang the rail ba portion being .provided with a tie engagmg abutment,

with a tie-engaging abutment yicldingly connected with said body portion and the other end thereof being provided with a tongue, also yiel'dingly connected with thtl body portion, the tongue being adapted to fa tongue connected resiliently with the other end of the body portion, the whole being made in one piece.

4. An anti-Creeper comprising a body portion having jawsgto engage the base of a rail anda return bend at one end of the body portion, the free' portion of the return bend constituting a tongue to engage over the base of the rail. l

5. An anti-Creeper comprising a body portion having jaws to engage the base of a rail, one end of the body portion having a tongue to engage over said base and reslliently 'connected with said body portion at a point outwardly beyond the adjacent jaw.

6. An anticreeper comprising a body provided with jaws at its ends, the upper edge of the body being straight and the operative portions of the jaws extending' up from said straight portion at approximately right angles thereto, a tie-engaging abut the rail, a resili.

I ment, a resilient'portion connecting the ti'ey body at one end thereof, the opposite end of the body having alug to coperate with theJ at a point opposite the tongue.

'7. An anti-Creeper comprising a body,

n "ii-ia the j.

upper edge of which is straight, jaws attira.:

" ends of the body', the operative faces ofthe. jaws extending upwardly from said straightk edge at approximately ka lright angle thereto,`

ot vwhich is in the' plane -of said edge, a

resilient portion connecting' saidv abutment with said body at one end of the latter, a tongue* to overlie the base of the rail,a l

resilient portion connecting the tongue with the adjacent end of the body, and a lug eX- '115 l aj tie-engaging abutment, the upper( portion 1 f thereo't' a return bend, the free part of which eonstitutes a tongue to engage over .the-,Supper side ot said base.

Si. An auti-ereeper eouiprissinga body portion having jaws to engage the base ot' a rail. the jaws btinzgr separated a distanee agreeing praetieally with theI width of said base, said body portion-having a tie-engaging abutment resiliently connected therewith at one end, and a tongue resiliently eonneeted with the opposite end oi' said body portion.

portion having jaws to engage the base ot a rail. the jaws being' separated a distanee agreeing' praetieally with the width ol Said 10. An anti-Creeper coinprisiiigr a bodv',

base, the body portion having a return bendaA at one end. the tree portion ot' whieh eonstitutes a tongue to over-lle said base and having at .the opposite end a tie-engaging abutlnent resillently eonneeted therewith. said body portion further havlng a lug' to engage over the base oi the rail opposite that part .thereof engaged by the tongue, the whole being made in one pieee.

11. An anti-Creeper comprising a body portion provided. with jaws to engage the base of a rail and also provided with a return bend at one end thereof, the tree portion ot' whieh constitutes a tongue to overlie Said base, said body portion further having a tie-engaging` abutment..

l2. An anti-Creeper comprising' a oody `portion provided with jaws to enjage the base ot' a. rail and valso prov'rlv (it one end thereof with. atonguel to ov 1-ne said base, said tongue being yieldingly connected with the body portion at a point out a1-illy be yond the adjaeentjaw.

lli. An anti-ereeper eonipi'ifingg` a body portion having: jaws; to receive the. base ot' a rail. :said body portion having a. tongue to engage over said base and yitldaby tjonneeted with said body portion at a pointoutwardly beyond the adjacent jaw, tho tongue extending inward into the space bounded by the planes o'l the operative por tions ol the jaws.

'li- .\.n anti-eriwper eoniprisinga body portion having jaweA to reeeivo a rail, lQuidl body portion having a return bend eonneeted therewith at a point outwardly Abeyond Jthe adjaeent jaw7 the 'l'ree porion ot' tine return bend being extended-inward into the spaee bounded by the planes oi the operative portions olI the, jaws to thus ere gage over the base ol1 the rail.

l5. n antiereeper comprising a body portion having jawI to grip a raii 'troni the underside thereof, lsaid body having` a tongue resiliently eonneeted therewith and to en gage under the bae oi" the rail when Said base is initiallyv positioned between the jaws, said tongue being; outwardly movable by the rail ou the upward movement et' the body portion and being4 adapted to snap over the upper side ot' the base oi the rail when' in line therewith.

in testimony whoreotA i' alir my signa ture in presenee oil two witness-in. i

li'itnesses L. L. Mumbai? Hnivrn SU'rnnaLANn.

finti 

